All Activity

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2142680/Kiki/ Kiki is currently free on Steam. https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/capybara-madness-switch/ Capybara Madness is currently free on Nintendo Switch. https://www.xbox.com/en-us/games/store/atoll-the-game/9nnzdnlnmdch Atoll is currently free on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.

Fact of the Day - ANTS AT WAR Did you know.... In addition to invading picnics in the park, ants stage full-on conflicts with other ant colonies. Take the aptly named army ants — a term that applies to around 150 distinct species — which are among the many ant species, along with leafcutter ants and marauder ants, that fight each other for the purpose of territory or resource control. Research has shown those battles share striking similarities to human skirmishes, with ants relying on a combination of force, strategy, and chemical warfare to achieve victory. Army ants have been observed advancing in tight phalanx formations that overwhelm opposing colonies with their sheer size. Some colonies send smaller numbers of scouts beforehand in search of food; those scouts then return to assemble a fighting force. Some species, such as the Matabele ant, even have some ants who essentially act like wartime medics, carrying injured ants away from the fight and tending to their wounds. There’s also evidence of ants strategically deploying “weaponry” in battles with other ant colonies. For example, the Raspberry crazy ant secretes a substance that neutralizes fire ant venom, while door ants explode when threatened and spew toxins on enemies. Other species, such as leafcutter ants, craft armor from magnesium calcite that helps them withstand oncoming attacks. Many ants also instinctively know when it’s time to retreat and fight another day, displaying an unwillingness to fight to the death in a losing situation — unless it’s for the purpose of defending their nest. A bullet ant’s sting is ranked among the most painful in the world. The Schmidt sting pain index, created by entomologist Justin O. Schmidt, is a ranking of the most excruciatingly painful insect stings. Pain level one includes the sting of red, tropical, and southern fire ants, which Schmidt equated to being shocked by a light switch, as well as the sting of a bee. At the highest end of the spectrum is the bullet ant, which is the only ranked insect to hold a notorious four-plus pain rating. Schmidt described the sting in his 2016 book The Sting of the Wild as “like walking over flaming charcoal with a 3-inch nail embedded in your heel.” Unlike other ant venom, which is commonly delivered by bite, a bullet ant delivers its venom using a wasplike stinger. While the sting isn’t fatal, it can lead to intense pain, muscle paralysis, and hallucinations that can last for up to 24 hours. Source: Ants go to war with other colonies.

What's the Word: HOBBLEDEHOY pronunciation: [HA-bəl-dee-hoy] Part of speech: noun Origin: Unknown, mid-16th century Meaning: 1. A clumsy or awkward youth. Examples: "I felt like a real hobbledehoy at my first job." "Now that Jennifer's braces were off, she was ready to leave behind her days of being a hobbledehoy." About Hobbledehoy Lexicographers are unsure about the specific origins of the word "hobbledehoy," although we do know that it was first used in the 16th century. The word, used as both a noun and an adjective, describes an awkward youth. Did you Know? Nearly everyone was a hobbledehoy at some point — it's a normal part of adolescence to feel a little awkward. Encouragement, praise, and support go a long way in helping your loved ones feel more confident in themselves as they grow up.

Fact of the Day - FIRE POPPY Did you know..... Wildfire can be devastating for humans and wildlife, yet some plant species rely on fire as a vital part of their life cycle. Known as fire followers, those species have evolved to take advantage of landscapes cleared by flames. Take, for example, the fire poppy (Papaver californicum), a delicate orange-red wildflower that emerges almost exclusively after wildfires in California’s chaparral and foothills. Its seeds can lie dormant in the soil for decades, waiting for the precise combination of heat, smoke, and mineral-rich ash that only fire provides. When those conditions align, fire poppies bloom briefly and brilliantly, turning barren slopes into living proof that destruction can also bring renewal. But that poppy isn’t the only plant to thrive in a fire-ravaged environment; fire followers exist in dry ecosystems around the world, from Australia’s savannas to the Mediterranean basin and South Africa’s fynbos biome. Fire removes dense vegetation, returns nutrients to the soil in the form of ash, and alters the chemistry of the ground and air in ways that signal it’s finally safe to grow. Some fire-following plants respond to heat that cracks open tough seed coats, while others are triggered by compounds found in smoke. In the months after a burn, when competition for growing space lessens and sunlight floods the ground, those plants can suddenly appear in extraordinary numbers, transforming charred land into fields of colorful growth. Ecologists have studied the relationship between fire and plant life for more than a century. In the early 1920s, botanists observed that certain chaparral shrubs in California only sprout and produce fruit after a wildfire, uncovering the evolutionary connection between fire and plant reproduction. Those early studies helped lay the groundwork for fire ecology, the scientific field dedicated to understanding how fire influences ecosystems. Fire ecologists examine how burns affect plant growth, nutrient cycling, seed dispersal, and interactions between species, revealing that fire is not just a destructive force but also a vital process for many landscapes around the world. Since those early observations, fire ecology has developed into a structured field of research. By the mid-20th century, scientists had begun studying how fire shapes vegetation patterns, soil chemistry, and ecosystem recovery. Source: There’s a California flower that only grows after fires.

What's the Word: FULSOME pronunciation: [FUL-səm] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Middle English, unknown Meaning: 1. Complimentary or flattering to an excessive degree. 2. Of large size or quantity; generous or abundant. Examples: "Her fulsome words made Jimmy both embarrassed and grateful." "They brought home a fulsome supply of apples from the orchard." About Fulsome This adjective comes from Middle English and developed from the words "full" ("filled to the limit") and "some" ("a group of a particular number"). Did you Know? While "fulsome" is a homonym (a word with multiple meanings for the same spelling/pronunciation), its earliest definition of "generous or abundant" is seen by some lexicographers as incorrect. The most commonly used definition today is that of "excessively complimentary or flattering," but some people still use it to mean "abundant," which can lead to ambiguity. The phrase "fulsome praise" could refer to a genuine compliment or be interpreted as an insult, depending on the definition.

Fact of the Day - MESSENGER PIGEONS Did you know.... Pigeons tend to have poor reputations, treated as winged pests that are shooed away from park benches and windowsills. However, these sometimes-annoying avians — which were first domesticated by humans at least 5,000 years ago — are also known for being adept messengers. That’s why police in Odisha, a coastal state in eastern India, have used pigeons to relay important messages in situations where modern lines of communication no longer work. About 150 homing, racing, and carrier pigeons make up the region’s pigeon patrol. They begin their training at just 5 to 6 weeks old, and can fly up to 500 miles at a time, at top speeds of 34 miles per hour. Fleets of carrier pigeons aren’t at all new to India. The feathered couriers were used throughout the country for centuries, and in more recent history by police stations during British colonial rule. Odisha launched its official bird messaging service in 1946 as an experiment, since the region had no telephone access. The program’s earliest pigeons were tasked with regularly transporting messages written on lightweight onion-skin paper between police stations in a state that spanned more than 60,000 square miles. Even with today’s accessible phone and internet services, there’s been no rush to retire the courier pigeons. While the birds tend to serve a ceremonial role during functions of state, handlers keep the pigeons trained and ready to respond in natural disasters when communication towers are wiped out, and the birds are believed to have helped save lives during catastrophic flooding in 1982 and in the aftermath of a super cyclone in 1999. The last known passenger pigeon was named for Martha Washington. The demise of the passenger pigeon has served as a century-long warning about the role humans play in the natural world. At one time, the species dominated the skies of North America, accounting for 25% to 40% of the entire American bird population. But by the early 1900s — following decades of overhunting and habitat destruction — only a few passenger pigeons survived in captivity. One in particular gained notoriety: Martha. Named for the nation’s original first lady, Martha Washington, the pigeon was housed at the Cincinnati Zoological Garden, where crowds regularly gathered to view the bird that would eventually become the last living passenger pigeon. Amazingly (and likely with the help of regular medical attention) Martha far surpassed her winged counterparts’ average lifespan of 15 years, living to the ripe age of 29. Today, it’s possible to still get a glimpse of her at the Smithsonian, where she has been taxidermized and is occasionally on display. Source: Police in India still use pigeons to relay messages.

What's the Word: SANATIVE pronunciation: [in-DITE] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, unknown Meaning: 1. Conducive to physical or spiritual health and well-being; healing. Examples: "Bridget’s favorite sanative pastime was driving down to the beach to watch the ocean." "The spa promised a sanative effect from every visit." About Sanative Sanative developed through the Old French word "sanatif" and the late Latin word "sanativus," but its origins lie in the Latin word "sanare" — which means "to cure." Did you Know? While it can be tempting to pursue many different goals, hobbies, and aspirations for their sanative effects, be careful to avoid burnout. Too many healthful efforts may have the opposite effect. Pick your favorite sanative hobby and stick with it.

https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/rustler-grand-theft-horse-21a7ca Rustler (Grand Theft Horse) is currently free on Epic Games. https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/forest-quartet-android-eb07b9 https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/forest-quartet-ios-eea63c The Forest Quartet is currently free on Epic Games on Android and iOS devices.

I recently bought myself these two shirts with birthday gift cards. I loved watching both SpongeBob SquarePants and My Little Pony when I was younger.

Fact of the Day - THE OLYMPIC TORCH Did you know... Is it the same flame from Greece to the games? One of the exciting traditions leading up to the Summer and Winter Olympics is the torch relay, when people can go out and see the Olympic torch as it travels from Greece, where it is lit by the sun and a parabolic mirror, to the Olympic flame in the host city. The relay is prepared for potential bad weather, like rain and wind, or other conditions that could cause the flame to go out. But there are still rare times when the flame does go out. So how do Olympic organizers ensure that the flame lit in Greece is still the same one that arrives in the host city for the Olympics? From Greece to Gold The Olympic flame is lit during a traditional ceremony in Greece that includes women dressed as ancient priestesses lighting the first flame with sunlight reflected on a parabolic mirror. That same flame will be carried by torch bearers throughout the torch relay until it makes its way to the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games, only to finally be extinguished at the end of the event. The Olympics make it a point to ensure that the same flame that was ignited during the ceremony in Greece is the one that lights the Olympic flame in the host city, which can be a bit of a challenge when carrying it through a relay with such a large number of participants. In 2024, for example, the torch relay for the Summer Games in Paris included around 10,000 torch bearers. The flame, however, always travels with a backup just in case. Officials carry specially-designed containers similar to a miner's lamp that house the original flame and a backup for everything from air travel (on a private plane, of course) to get the flame from Greece to the relay and then keep the flame lit throughout its journey. If the flame goes out for a torch bearer during the journey, the backup container is used to relight the flame. Needing a Backup The backup flame has actually been important during relays when circumstances caused the flame to go out for a torch bearer during the relay. In the 1970s, there was a problem with the torch as it made its way to the Summer Olympics in Montreal, Canada. A rainstorm caused the flame to go out during the relay, causing an official along the route to relight it with a cigarette lighter. That's actually not allowed, as it doesn't keep with the tradition of using the original flame. So, the re-lit torch was extinguished and lit again with the backup that started in Greece. A report during the 2014 Winter Games relay in Russia said the torch had gone out multiple times during its travels. A spokesman for the relay at the time claimed that it was normal to have that number of incidents. In 2016, a man tried to extinguish the torch during the relay in Brazil by throwing water at it. Luckily, it missed the torch, which stayed lit. The relay also has typical issues with the flame that could necessitate relighting it during the relay, such as bad weather, of course, or a runner taking too long during the relay and using up all the fuel in a torch before it can be passed on. The 2026 Winter Games, taking place in Italy, run from February 6 to February 22. See the full schedule here. Source: How the Olympics Keep the Torch Lit—And What Happens When It Goes Out

What's the Word: INDITE pronunciation: [in-DITE] Part of speech: verb Origin: Latin, 14th century Meaning: 1. Write; compose. Examples: "I try to indite a brief message in every Christmas card I send." "My grandfather kept a journal in which he would indite a few thoughts at the end of every day." About Indite Variations of "indite" developed in Middle English ("endite") and French ("enditier"). However, its origins can be traced back to the Latin word "indicere" ("to proclaim"). Did you Know? Would you like to be a better writer? Beyond all the courses, books, and podcasts that promise to make it easier to indite your thoughts, one of the best ways to improve is to establish a daily writing habit.

Fact of the Day - ASTEROIDS Did you know... There are more than a million known asteroids in our humble solar system, most of which are fairly small and irregularly shaped. There are some outliers, however. Some asteroids are nearly spherical, and some are so big they have their own moons — around 150 of them are in this category, in fact. There are even binary and trinary asteroids that orbit one another like celestial twins and triplets, which surely makes hurtling through the vacuum of space less lonely than it would be otherwise. (In February 2022, astronomers even discovered a quaternary asteroid — 130 Elektra, which has three moons.) Like their moonless counterparts, the majority of these asteroids can be found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, and are believed to be remnants from the creation of the solar system. The first asteroid moon discovered was Dactyl, a mile-wide natural satellite orbiting the asteroid Ida and initially spotted in 1994. Other asteroids with moons include 45 Eugenia, 3122 Florence (which has two moons), and 87 Sylvia, which is roughly the same size as West Virginia and was the first trinary asteroid discovered. It’s also among the largest known asteroids in our solar system. As for the largest asteroid to ever hit Earth, it wasn’t the one that killed the dinosaurs (RIP). That distinction may belong to the asteroid that caused the Vredefort crater in South Africa, which once may have been around twice as large as it is now. A recent study concluded that the asteroid that made the crater may have been between 12.4 and 15.5 miles across when it made impact some 2 billion years ago. Hopefully, we won’t see one like it again any time soon. The first asteroid ever discovered is now considered a dwarf planet. If you find Pluto’s unjust trajectory from planet to dwarf planet hard to follow, wait until you hear about Ceres. Discovered on New Year’s Day 1801 by Guiseppe Piazzi at Sicily’s Palermo Astronomical Observatory, it was originally considered a planet before being reclassified as an asteroid in the 1850s — the first time we mere mortals realized that asteroids were a distinct class. Other early asteroids include Pallas (1802), Juno (1804), and Vesta (1807), all of which are smaller than Ceres — which is why the latter was reclassified again, this time as a dwarf planet, in 2006. In addition to Pluto and Ceres, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) recognizes three other dwarf planets: Eris, Makemake, and Haumea. Source: Some asteroids have moons.

What's the Word: CAMBER pronunciation: [KAM-bər] Part of speech: noun Origin: Late Middle English, unknown Meaning: 1. The slightly convex or arched shape of a road or other horizontal surface. Examples: "The camber of the sidewalk allowed for easy drainage after it rained." "You'll notice that the new highway was built with a camber to its surface." About Camber Camber developed in Middle English but finds its roots in the Old French word "chambre" ("arched") and the Latin word "camurus" ("curved inward"). Did you Know? Isn't a road supposed to be flat? Many paths are; however, modern roads are built with a camber for several important reasons, including easy drainage during rainstorms.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/527710/Crown_Champion_Legends_of_the_Arena/ Crown Champion: Legends of the Arena is currently free on Steam. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2623090/Battle_Simulator_Counter_Stickman/ Battle Simulator: Counter Stickman is currently free on Steam.

Fact of the Day - MIGRATION Did you know.... No animal on Earth travels quite like the eastern monarch butterfly. Its journey begins in the early days of spring on a few mountains in central Mexico. Millions of the monarchs (Danaus plexippus plexippus) fill the branches of oyamel firs, and as the temperature warms up, they soak in the sun and begin their epic journey northward — a 3,000-mile trip that looks more like a bird’s migration than an insect’s. But it’s not only the miles that make the butterfly’s journey so remarkable — it’s also the means. A typical monarch butterfly lives for only about four weeks, not nearly long enough to complete the journey to the northern U.S. and Canada. So the migration becomes a multigenerational one. In a typical year, it will take four generations for monarch butterflies to finish the seasonal quest their great-grandparents started. To return south in the fall, a “super generation” — also known as the Methuselah generation (after the long-lived biblical patriarch) because it can live eight times longer than its ancestors — will travel 50 miles a day by riding thermal currents southward before finally resting in the same oyamel firs in central Mexico. All hail the monarch! Mexican scientists are trying to move a forest to save the monarch butterfly. Despite the monarch butterfly’s amazing resiliency, life isn’t easy for the 4-inch fluttering creature. Over the past 20 years, the number of eastern monarchs spending the winter in central Mexico has declined 80%, due to habitat loss, pesticides, and climate change. To combat this decline, researchers are planting saplings of the oyamel fir — the tree preferred by the butterflies while overwintering — some 1,300 feet higher than the current range in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in Michoacán, Mexico. The process is known as “assisted migration” or “assisted colonization,” and the hope is that cooler temperatures at higher elevations will help the trees survive a warming climate and secure a safe place for monarchs to hibernate and prosper. Source: Some monarch butterflies migrate 3,000 miles.

What's the Word: HOUSEWRIGHT pronunciation: [HAUS-rite] Part of speech: noun Origin: North America, mid-16th century Meaning: 1. A builder of houses, especially those constructed largely of timber; a house carpenter. Examples: "After working with Habitat for Humanity, Rachel felt like a bona fide housewright." "We hired a housewright to help us rehab our 19th-century wooden cottage." About Housewright Housewright developed as an American word in the 16th century through the combination of the words "house" and "wright" (an old Germanic word that means "maker or builder"). Did you Know? You could hire a handyman to do general repairs around your house, but if you have a historic wooden home, you'll want a housewright. This term was popular in 18th-century colonial America to refer to craftsmen who cut timber and assembled it into houses.

Fact of the Day - BLUE SUNSETS Did you know.... No two planets are the same — even when it comes to their sunsets. As the sun dips below the horizon on Earth, the sky blossoms into warm hues of oranges, pinks, and reds. But that’s not the case everywhere in the galaxy. Sunsets, of course, have to do with the properties of the visible light spectrum, in which light takes on a variety of colors. Our sky appears blue, for example, because when light reaches the Earth’s atmosphere, gases (oxygen, carbon, and nitrogen) and molecules scatter the shortest wavelengths of light (violet and blue) the most. When the sun sets, it’s lower in the sky, and light travels farther through a denser atmosphere. As more of the light is scattered, the short blue wavelengths disperse, and more of the longer red and yellow wavelengths actually reach our eyes. Although Mars is our planetary neighbor, its skies are almost completely the opposite. During the day, the skies above the red planet are, well, red, but at the end of a Martian day, a blue haze forms. Although the same physics are at work, the planets’ different atmospheres produce contrasting results. Mars’ atmosphere (or lack thereof) is mostly carbon dioxide and iron-rich dust. It’s this dust, made of larger particles than in Earth’s atmosphere, that scatters the light in different ways than on Earth, creating red skies during the day. When the sun sets, the Martian dust preserves more of the short blue wavelengths. In 2020, NASA applied this gaseous light physics to create a “sunset simulator” that shows off the end-of-day light displays on other planets, moons, and exoplanets — proving that the galaxy is indeed a kaleidoscope of color. One day a ring may encircle Mars. According to modeling produced by scientists at Purdue University in 2017, in 70 million years the Martian moon Phobos will reach the planet’s Roche limit, the point where objects are torn apart by tidal forces. Once this happens, a ring of debris will surround Mars, somewhat similar to the ring around Saturn (though to a less extraordinary degree). This theory also suggests that this won’t be the first time Mars has had rings. Over the past 4.3 billion years, Mars has likely gone through cycles of rings and moons. In the far future, Mars’ rings will once again coalesce and become a new moon, some five times smaller than Phobos. Source: Sunsets on Mars are blue.

What's the Word: OPUSCULE pronunciation: [oh-PUH-skyool] Part of speech: noun Origin: French, mid-17th century Meaning: 1. A small or minor literary or musical work. Examples: "While this book could be considered an opuscule, it means a lot to me personally." "The opuscule doesn't even sound like it was written by the famous poet." About Opuscule This noun originally comes from the Latin word "opusculum," a dimunutive of the word that means "work." If you are working on a project, no matter how big or small it is, you can refer to it as your "opus." Did you Know? A magnum opus is the complete opposite of an opuscule. The former term refers to the most important work of an artist's career, often one that they are most recognized for.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1755300/Smart_Factory_Tycoon/ Smart Factory Tycoon is currently free on Steam.

Fact of the Day - NO "E" ON REPORT CARDS Did you know.... In the U.S. and many other parts of the world, students are graded on an “A” to “F” scale, seldom questioning why one letter is missing. “E” isn’t found on most modern report cards — but why? This isn’t a simple oversight, but rather the result of centuries of evolving grading practices. By tracing the history of student evaluations, we can uncover why the letter “E” quietly disappeared from report cards across the United States. Early Modern Grading Didn’t Use Letters In 1785, Yale University President Ezra Stiles introduced what is believed to be the first proper grading system in the American colonies. That four-point scale, written in Latin, comprised the following categories: optimi (best), secondi optimi (second best), inferiores boni (less good), and pejores (worse). By 1837, mathematics and philosophy professors at Harvard had adopted a 100-point grading system, though it looked different than the one we use today. The modern 100-point scale features corresponding letter values and typically looks like this: “A” is 90-100, “B” is 80-89, “C” is 70-79, and “D” is 60-69. But Harvard used a strictly numerical scale without any corresponding letters, and the ranges were as follows: 100 (perfect), 75-99, 51-74, 26-50, and 25 or below. The average grades followed a bell curve, with most students hovering around 50. Scores on both extremes (above 75 and below 25) were rare. Numerical grades gained traction across the country, and by the early 20th century, it became the most common grading system.Teachers at schools of all levels began assigning and recording grades using this 100-point scale, and, for the first time, modern grades inched toward a universal system. The Rise and Fall of “E” Although numerical grading was the most popular method of assessing students from the mid-1800s through the early 1900s, another system emerged and evolved alongside it: letter grades. Teachers at Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts began using letter grades as early as 1884. By the 1896-1897 school year, Mount Holyoke had become the first U.S. school to have documented use of a uniform letter grading system. Letters were assigned to numerical ranges, but those ranges differed from Harvard’s. Instead, the system looked similar to what’s used in schools today: An “A” grade (excellent) was 95-100, “B” (good) was 85-94, “C” (fair) was 76-84, “D” (barely passed) was 75, and “E” was a failing grade, though it didn’t have a corresponding number. The following year, Mount Holyoke altered its grading system, adding an “F” for the first time. The numerical ranges were adjusted to include the new letter, and the grading scale spanned “A” through “F.” Interestingly, though, the college also retained the “E,” thus increasing its grading scale from five categories to six. But this move proved unpopular, and other schools began removing the “E” grade. Experts have several theories about why “E” began to fade, including a push for a more efficient system. By the early 20th century, educators believed that fewer grading categories would help teachers streamline the process, simplifying the system. Isidor Edward Finkelstein, author of The Marking System in Theory and Practice (1913), was influential in this line of thought. Specifically, he and his colleagues believed that five divisions was the optimal number on a marking scale. That meant the modern grading system needed to drop one letter. As researchers Kimberly Tanner and Dr. Jeffrey Schinske wrote in their article “Teaching More by Grading Less (or Differently),” the “E” grade was an easy target because “F” so clearly stood for “fail.” The article cites another issue with “E”: Some students assumed it stood for “excellent” despite it marking unsatisfactory grades, making it the most misunderstood letter out of the bunch. It was a perfect storm — “F” was a clearer stand-in for “fail” while “E” confused and crowded the grading scale. By the 1930s, “E” grades had disappeared from American schools. “E” Remains in Some Grading Scales During the latter half of the 20th century, the letter grading system “A” to “F” (excluding “E”) became standard across the country. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t exceptions. In elementary schools, a different letter scale is often seen on report cards, especially for younger students in kindergarten through third grade. For instance, grades may include “D” (“developing”), “E” (“expanding”), “S” (“satisfactory”), and “N” (“needs improvement”). As these grading systems vary by school district, the “E” may also mean “excellent” or “exceeding expectations.” So no, “E” hasn’t been entirely banished from the modern education system, but it has undoubtedly lost its place in the standard lineup of U.S. letter grading, remaining a curious omission from student report cards across America. Source: Why There’s No ‘E’ on Report Cards

What's the Word: RETROJECT pronunciation: [reh-trə-JEKT] Part of speech: verb Origin: Latin, mid-19th century Meaning: 1. Project backward. Examples: "He presented a hypothesis that retrojected onto the previous learnings." "He was reminiscing about his youth, retrojecting with his past accomplishments." About Retroject Retroject originated in the mid-19th century from the combination of the Latin words "retro" ("backward") and "project" ("to throw forth"). It's a bit of an oxymoron, but as a portmanteau, it works. Did you Know? Have you heard of the psychological term "projection"? It means to attribute your feelings or opinions to someone else. "Retroject" means to apply current beliefs or learnings to the past.

Been playing Dragon Quest 2 HD-2D Remake. Played 3 back in Winter 2024, then finished up 1 last month... hoping to be done with 2 by the time 7 releases next month but I don't think I will be.

Holy Crap you're alive! Nice to hear from you!

Virtual City Playground®: Build Your Metropolis is currently free on Steam. Also, not dead- just busy. https://store.steampowered.com/app/3760180/Virtual_City_Playground_Build_Your_Metropolis/?snr=1_5_1100__1100&utm_source=steamwidget

Fact of the Day - FRIDAY THE 13TH Did you know.... If you feel uneasy every time there’s a Friday the 13th on the horizon, we have some bad news: The 13th day of the month lands slightly more frequently on a Friday than any other day of the week, making the supposedly unlucky date fairly common. The reason for this comparatively high frequency has to do with the Gregorian calendar, which is based on a repeating 400-year cycle and leap years that add to the total number of days in that cycle. Including leap days, each four-century cycle consists of 146,097 days, which is divisible by seven with no remainder, equaling 20,871. For example, January 1, 2000, fell on a Saturday, meaning January 1, 2400, will too. Knowing this allows us to determine in advance which day(s) of the week the 13th will fall on in any given month or year. The difference in frequency is minimal, however: The 13th will fall on a Friday 688 times during the cycle that began on January 1, 2000, compared to 687 Wednesdays and Sundays, 685 Mondays and Tuesdays, and 684 Thursdays and Saturdays. The years 2012 and 2015 both had three Friday the 13ths, as will 2026 — February, March, and November will all feature horror fans’ favorite (un)lucky day. By the end of the decade, the 2020s as a whole will have had a total of 16 Friday the 13ths. Spoiler alert: Jason isn’t the antagonist of the first “Friday the 13th” movie. As Drew Barrymore found out the hard way in Scream’s legendary opening sequence, the villain of the original Friday the 13th isn’t Jason Voorhees — it’s his mother Pamela, who spends the movie picking off teens at Camp Crystal Lake to avenge her son, who drowned there as a child when the counselors were, shall we say, otherwise occupied when they should have been on lifeguard duty. Jason doesn’t emerge as the primary antagonist until 1981’s Friday the 13th Part II, and he doesn’t don his iconic hockey mask until 1982’s Part III. He’s been getting killed by final girls at the end of one movie and coming back to life at the beginning of the next ever since. Source: The 13th day of the month is more likely to be a Friday than any other day of the week.